This wasn't supposed to happen

March 05, 2006|AL LESAR

INDIANAPOLIS -- Kneepads did more than just cushion patellas for the Castle girls basketball team Saturday night. They were a statement. A frame of mind. An attitude that carried the Knights to the Class 4-A state championship with an 83-72 win over Washington. Those white straps of cloth fastened to every Knight's knee were the difference. "(Earlier this season), when we came back from the Hall of Fame tournament after losing to Lebanon by 13 and Columbus East by nine, we had to do something," Castle coach Wayne Allen said. "We spent the next three days at practice taking charges and diving for loose balls. These kneepads were a statement that no one was going to play harder than Castle." It didn't happen Saturday night. Size was the most obvious inequity between the two teams -- Castle didn't have a player smaller than 5-foot-7. The Knights looked more like volleyball players who could dribble. Washington's problems ran deeper than a measurement. Defense? Not much. Rebounding? Uh, uh. Patience? Nope. Crucial baskets? Not this time. Forced shots out of frustration? Way too many. Oh my, this wasn't supposed to happen. Top-ranked Washington, unscathed in its last 19 games, was primed for its coronation at Conseco Fieldhouse. Castle was overlooked among the state's elite at season's end. Polls don't dictate titles, though. Championships are won by rebounds (Castle controlled the boards, 39-34), solid floor play (Washington had 19 turnovers, compared to 15 for Castle) and consistency (Washington went 5 minutes and 29 seconds without scoring in the second quarter -- a 16-0 Castle run). "Their big girls killed us," Washington guard Emily Phillips said of Castle. "Their long arms, they tapped everything. We had to adjust our offense to that. Our big girls backed down." Washington's big girls, Ashley Varner and Katie Boocher, were forced into a timid mood because of foul trouble. The two combined for seven points, five rebounds and 30 minutes of playing time. "Their size killed us," Varner said. "Our fouls really hurt the way we were able to play." Castle's inside threat, 5-11 junior Jasmine Ussery, was dominant. Her 22 points and 16 rebounds were Panther killers. "That (No.) 40, I don't know her name, she did a great job," said Washington's Skylar Diggins, who led the Panthers with 22 points. Diggins will remember Ussery's name now. "We saw a lot of what (Castle) did tonight on the tape," Phillips said. "Individually, though, we never saw that No. 40 play like that. She really stepped up." "The key for us was that we were able to get the ball to the post (Ussery), especially in the first half," Allen said. "Once we got it there, we were able to make something happen." "I'm the only rebel on this team. I don't like to wear these kneepads," Ussery said. "But if it means getting this team a state championship, I'm all for it." Heck, it may be worth considering for Washington in the future. Anything for a lift when a title's on the line -- especially with a team that returns all but one player. "Hey, this hurts," said Phillips, who had 18 points for the Panthers. "But look, I'm still standin'. This team's gonna be back. Don't worry, we'll be here again. We learned a lot tonight." Tough stage for a lesson.